TNA Impact Wrestling: Championship Thursday
Orlando, Florida (Impact Wrestling Zone)
October 25, 2012
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Taz, Jeremy Borash, & Todd Keneley
Report by: Josh Boutwell of Wrestleview.com
Highlights from last week start off Impact and then we cut to Hogan’s office where Hardy is talking to Hogan. Hardy is now holding his custom belt AND the TNA World Title belt on both shoulders. Hogan says Hardy has a chance to prove why he is the best tonight and talks about the four possible contenders tonight. Hardy says he’s ready and BFG changed me so whoever Hogan throws at him is going to be in for the fight of his life. Hogan wishes Hardy the best of luck and he needs to go get ready now.
We cut to the challengers watching as Hardy comes out of the office. A voiceover of Hardy talking about each contender as he walks past airs in one of the more ridiculous things I’ve ever seen.
Taz and Tenay surprisingly aren’t at the announce table. Jeramy Borash welcomes us to the show and introduces his partner Todd Keneley and says they will be commentating for the first hour of Impact and Taz & Tenay will handle the 2nd hour. Well, let’s see how this goes. A quick Google search reveals he’s been a backstage interviewer for NWA Hollywood in the past and was the ring announcer for Hulk Hogan’s “Celebrity Championship Wrestling” as well as doing some announcing for UPW based out of California and for New Japan Pro Wrestling “Toukon Fighting Spirit.” Keneley also played Defensive Tackle at USC and has done MMA commentating for both Elite-XC and Chuck Norris’ World Combat League.
TNA X-Division Championship
“Whole F’N Show” Rob Van Dam (c) vs. Zema Ion
This is a rematch from BFG where Van Dam won the X-Division Title for the first ending Zema’s 4 month title reign. Keneley mentions how Zema now finds himself in a new role, as challenger. A big “RVD” chant starts as the bell rings and then Zema locks up with RVD and gets him in a side headlock, but RVD shoves him into the ropes. Zema slides underneath RVD’s legs and then leaps over an attempt a Leg Sweep from RVD. Zema goes for a dropkick but RVD sidesteps it and then attempts a German Suplex. Zema counters into a rollup, 1…2…NO RVD kicks out and then sweeps the legs of Zema and gets a nearfall of his own. Zema comes back with a side headlock but RVD counters into a top wristlock and then he kicks Zema in the ribs and rolls him up with a Body Scissors for another nearfall. Zema comes back with an armdrag but RVd answers with a Gorilla Press Slam followed by a Standing Moonsault that he overshoots. So RVD instead goes to the ropes and hits an Asai Moonsault out of the corner! 1…2…NO Zema kicks out! Zema rolls out to the floor to retreat from RVD’s onslaught but you’re not safe out there from Van Dam! RVD hits a Sliding Dropkick to Zema and then sets up for a dive but Zema trips him and pulls him out to the floor. Zema slams RVD into the guardrail and then climbs back into the ring. Zema sets up for a dive but RVD quickly gets to the apron and nails a charging Zema with a Spin Kick! RVD hits Zema with a forearm and then attempts to whip him into the ropes but Zema reverses it and goes for a backdrop. RVD stops and kicks Zema and then goes for a Cross Body, but Zema ducks and RVD goes flying out to the floor! Zema follows up with a Somersault Plancha over the top onto RVD on the floor! Back in the ring Zema stuns RVD onto the top rope and then slingshots himself into the ring into a Tornado DDT on RVD! 1…2…NO RVD kicks out! Zema climbs up top and dvies off with a Corkscrew Moonsault, but RVD rolls out of the way! RVD hits a Springboard Flying Back Kick and then Rolling Thunder! RVD springs to the top and dives off with the 5-Star! 1…2…3!
Winner & STILL X-Division Champ: RVD via pinfall (5-Star Frog Splash)
After the match Matt Morgan hits the ring and DESTROYS RVD with a Carbon Footprint! Joey Ryan grabs RVD’s title and taunts him with it. Morgan grabs a microphone and says that Hogan wanted to see a different side to Morgan, and he should be careful what you wish for it because now he’s going to get it. Ryan tosses the belt onto RVD and says he’s going to get it too.
In the back Austin Aries eavesdrops on Hogan’s deliberation for the World Title challengers and he says he doesn’t have to beg Hogan for anything because he has a rematch in the bag. Aries mockingly says “oh please Mr. Hogan give me a title shot, Thunder In Paradise was so much better than Baywatch.” That one was amusing. Aries says Hogan is just using them for his own personal amusement so he’s going to do the same and stand outside and wait for the reaction to everyone that gets eliminated.
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Former Tag Champs Daniels & Kaz make their way down to the ring and Daniels has a clipboard in his hand. Kaz says it’s really fitting that Halloween is around the corner because the REAL Tag Team Champions have gotten a lot of treats but zero treats. Kaz says they’re the victims of a conspiracy and since that’s kind of a big word he’ll explain to the “troglodytes” what that means. Kaz says “Mr. Nanny himself” Hulk Hogan altered Kaz’s travel so that he wasn’t able to make it to be in Daniels corner on Impact leaving Daniels at a severe disadvantage. Kaz and Daniels are being serenaded with a “you suck” chant. Kaz says their Tag Titles were taken from them at BFG by two men that “probably in this country illegally.”
Daniels says the people are slow so they need to explain this slowly. Daniels says tonight is supposed to be Championship Thursday but it’s not really and calls Hogan “Suburban Commando.” Is it terrible Hulk Hogan movie reference night? Daniels says Zema Ion got his title rematch and Tessmacher will get hers but the best tag team in the business isn’t getting their rematch. He says that’s a crime and it’s not just because they’re the best but it’s also because they aren’t liars or manipulators like Chavito & Hernandez. Daniels says they know what buttons to push to get what they want. He says that Chavo comes out and mentions every member of the Guerrero family to get the fans to chant but worse than that they know Dixie Carter is so desperate to court a Latino audience (fact) they come out wearing ponchos and Spanish Tattoos all over them. Daniels suggests they go the whole nine yards and wear sombreros and come to the ring with Tequila bottles. Daniels suggests they call their tag team “Dos Estereotipos.” Daniels shows the clipboard and says that it’s a petition and he’s going to get all their fans to sign it to show Hogan that the fans won’t standby and wait for the best tag team in the world to get a rematch. Kaz goes out to get some signatures but then Chavo & Hernandez’s music hits and the new tag champs make their way out.
Chavo asks if he heard Daniels correctly and asks if they really need help getting a rematch. Chavo says he and Hernandez are happy to help them and nothing would make them more happy than to help them get a rematch so they can take the belts and shove them down Daniels & Kaz’s throats! Hernandez lays Kaz out and Daniels bails before he could get a shot too. Chavo picks up the clipboard and the tag champs sign it and Chavo says any place, anytime the rematch is good with them.
In the back Hogan is deliberating with the contenders. Storm says that Hogan saw at BFG what he’s capable of and he’s going to whoop anybodies ass he’s put out there with. Storm says he’s had to sit in the backseat for others his entire career and he’s tired of it, it’s Storm’s time. Angle says if he didn’t get hurt at BFG he’d still be champion and he hasn’t had another shot at the belt since h lost it last year. Anderson says he doesn’t know what Hogan wants from him or what he wants him to say. Hogan says then that makes it easy because he isn’t showing the fire the others are so he’s eliminated.
As Anderson leaves Hogan’s office Aries confronts him and taunts him about getting eliminated. Aries says when he’s the champion again he’ll give Anderson a title shot anytime he wants but Anderson says he doesn’t need a handout. Aries says that’s funny because a match with Anderson would be a handout to Aries because he’s a better wrestler and even a bigger asshole than Anderson. Aries then throws his drink in Anderson’s face! Anderson nails Aries and comes back and they start brawling! Anderson grabs a picture of the wall and nails Aries with it! Aries challenges Anderson to face him tonight! Somebody botched BADLY with production because you could clearly hear someone yell “CUT!” at the end of that.
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Aces & Eight’s meet at the clubhouse and Devon says the president has told them to not let the masks come off under ANY circumstances. He says nobody needs to know who they are. He says that he has some ladies for their entertainment tonight but before they can celebrate them need to take somebody out. One of the members gets up and throws a dart at a bunch of pictures of the TNA roster. The camera doesn’t show who it hit but Devon laughs and says they found who it will be.
TNA Television Championship
“Samoan Submission Machine” Samoa Joe (c) vs. Robbie T. w/Robbie E.
Joe choked Robbie E. out last week. Joe and Robbie lockup and Terry tosses Joe to the corner. Joe avoids him and nails Terry with a series of chops. The big man just shrugs them off so Joe hits the ropes and nails Terry with a shoulder block. Terry doesn’t go down and dares Joe to do it again. Joe hits the ropes again but this time Terry hits him with a Double Sledge and lays into Joe in the corner with repeated right hands. Joe comes back with a series of jabs and chops! Joe hits a Spinning Elbow and then bounces off the ropes but runs into a Spinning Heel Kick from Terry! Terry hits Joe with an elbow and then whips Joe into the ropes and swings, but Joe ducks and bounces off the ropes again. Terry catches Joe by the throat and sets up for a Chokeslam, but Joe hits Terry with several forearm shots to break it. Joe hits the ropes again but again Terry grabs him by the throat! Terry goes for a Chokeslam but Joe blocks it and locks in the Coquina Clutch! Robbie E. gets on the apron to distract the referee but Terry is able to break the hold by backing Joe into the corner hard anyway. Joe goes right back to the Coquina Clutch! Terry again slams Joe back into the corner but this time Joe jumps onto the back of Terry and locks in the Coquina Clutch! Terry drops down onto his back and Joe lands hard! Terry is free from the hold only for a few seconds, though, because Joe jumps back up and wraps his legs around Terry’s body and locks in the Coquina Clutch yet again! Joe goes into his psychotic trance and rolls his eyes into the back of his head as he chokes the life out of Terry! Terry taps out and the dominant Samoan retains yet again!
Winner & STILL TV Champ: Joe via submission (Coquina Clutch)
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Highlights from the KO Title Match at BFG airs and backstage Tessmacher says every minute she’s had to wait for this rematch has felt like an eternity. She says it did feel great to see Jesse get manhandled by ODB last week though. Tessmacher says tonight she’s going to bring the KO Title back where it belongs and send Tara & Jesse packing back to the “D-List.”
Hogan deliberates further with the contenders and says he believes in all 3 of them. Angle says Ray isn’t focused on the Title, he’s focused on Devon but doesn’t blame him. Storm says he’s been stabbed in the back by his partner and he wasn’t focused on anything but getting revenge so he knows how Ray feels. Ray says it is true that he’s focused on his brother but he’s also focused on the World Title. Ray says if he doesn’t get the shot then he will go out and confront his brother regardless tonight. Hogan says he just made Hogan’s decision for him and dismisses Ray.
Anderson bitches to a crew member about Aries and tells the guy to go get Aries because the match is on.
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
“A-Double” Austin Aries vs. Mr. Anderson
I don’t recall these two ever facing each other before. Aries and Anderson lockup and Aries shoves Anderson away. Anderson shoves him back and calls Aries a bitch and then locks up with him again. Aries swings at Anderson but he blocks it and then nails Aries with a shot of his own. Aries retreats to the floor but returns to the ring and locks up with Anderson again. They brawl into the corner and then he shoves Anderson again. Anderson shoves him back and then goes for the Green Bay Plunge, but Aries blocks it and swings at Anderson. Anderson again blocks it and lays Aries out! Anderson goes for an Elbow Drop but Aries rolls out to the floor. Back in the ring Aries gets Anderson in a waistlock but Anderson breaks it with back elbows. As Aries has him in a waistlock it looked like Aries stuck something down Anderson’s trunks (not his hand). Anderson pulls out a pair of brass knuckles and the referee quickly takes them away. As the referee was discarding the knucks Aries lays Anderson out from behind. Aries chops away at Anderson but Anderson turns it around and swings at Aries with big right hands. Anderson whips Aries into the corner hard and then hits a Scoop Slam followed by an Elbow Drop! 1…2…NO Aries kicks out! Aries comes back and rakes Anderson’s eyes on the ropes and then puts the boots to him. Aries tosses Anderson out to the floor and then dives out with the Heat Seeking Missile sending Anderson into the guardrail!
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Back from the break Aries continues to beat down Anderson. Aries whips Anderson into the corner and hits a Running Back Elbow followed by a series of right hands. Aries lights Anderson up with chops but Anderson comes back with chops of his own. Anderson whips Aries into the corner and charges but Aries gets his boots up! Aries hits a Knee Drop to the back of Anderson’s head and gets a nearfall. Aries hits Anderson with an elbow and then a series of Forearm Smashes. Anderson comes back with a series of forearms of his own and then he hits the ropes but Aries nails him with a Running Elbow! Aries hits the ropes but runs into a clothesline from Anderson! Anderson hits a back elbow and then a Spinning Clothesline! Anderson follows up with a Spinning Neckbreaker and then he goes for the Green Bay Plunge, but Aries blocks it and rakes the back of Anderson. Aries goes for a Spinning Forearm but Anderson ducks and then goes for a Roundhouse Kick. Aries ducks but Anderson spins through into a Spinning Enziguri! Aries falls through the ropes to the floor. Anderson hits a Slingshot Plancha over the top onto Aries on the floor! Anderson tosses Aries back in the ring and covers him for a nearfall. Anderson goes for the Green Bay Plunge again but Aries holds onto the referee to block it and then he crashes down on top of him! Aries pulls the knucks out of the referee’s pockets as he’s stunned and swings at Anderson with them, but Anderson ducks and grabs them! The referee catches him again and takes them away. Aries pulled something else out of his trunks and LAYS Anderson out with them! Aries pulls Anderson on top of him as the referee turns around, 1…2…obviously Aries kicks out a two. Aries then argues with the referee locks Anderson in the Last Chancery! The referee checks Anderson and he’s out.
Winner: Aries via KO (Last Chancery)
In the back Tara bitches to Brooke Hogan about ODB. She says ODB beat Tara fair and square. Jesse says he had to take 12 tomato baths just to get ODB’s smell off him. Brooke says Tara has a title match TONIGHT against Tessmacher so she better get her head in the game. Brooke tells Jesse that she heard ODB has her eye on Jesse.
Tenay and Taz are on commentary now and Taz & Todd have the biggest fail of all fails as Taz goes in for a fist bump while Todd goes for a handshake, then Todd switches to the fist bump and Taz switches to the handshake. Talk about awkward.
TNA Knockouts Championship
Tara (c) w/Jesse vs. Miss Tessmacher
Tessmacher nails Tara with a dropkick as she tried to get in the ring. Tessmacher slams Tara into the ring apron repeatedly and then rolls her back in the ring. Tessmacher stomps Tara and then covers her for the first nearfall of the match. Tessmacher hits a Snapmare Takeover and kicks Tara in the back and then slams her head into the mat over and over. Tessmacher tosses Tara into the corner and puts the boots to her. Jesse argues with Tessmacher and Tara hits her from behind. Tara rolls out to the floor and Tara follows her. She slams Tessmacher into the apron and then back in the ring. Tara kicks Tessmacher in the ribs and pays Tessmacher back by slamming her face into the mat repeatedly. Tara rakes the face of Tessmacher and then puts the boots to her. Tara hits a Scoop Slam and then goes for a Slingshot Somersault Leg Drop, but Tessmacher moves and nails Tara with elbows. Tessmacher chops at Tara and then whips her into the ropes and connects with a series of clotheslines! Tessmacher follows up with a Flying Elbow and then the Asstastic in the corner! Tessmacher mounts Tara in the corner and hits a Falling Facebuster! Tessmacher then hits the ropes as Tara grabs the referee and Jesse pulls Tessmacher out hard to the floor! Tara grabs Tessmacher as she rolls back in and hit’s the Widow’s Peak! 1…2…3!
Winner & STILL KO Champ: Tara via pinfall (Widow’s Peak)
Brooke Hogan walks out onto the stage and says next week is Open Fight Night and that means anybody can call anyone out. She says that she just got off the phone with ODB and ODB wants to challenge…JESSE! Jesse and Tara freak out, oh yeah I can’t wait for that one (insert sarcasm).
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
In the back Joseph Park approaches Hogan and Park wants a piece of A’s & 8’s. Park gives Hogan a contract that makes TNA not liable for anything that happens if he faces A’s & 8’s. He asks Hogan to stand behind him this one time and if he can’t stand behind him, just get out of his way. Hogan says he’ll think about it.
Bully Ray comes down to the ring and he thanks Sting again for allowing him to stand beside him at BFG. Ray says he’s been in this business for over 20 years and not many things shock him anymore, but at BFG when the mask came off and he found out that his brother involved with A’s & 8’s he was shocked. Ray says that Devon came out and gave some BS excuse for why he did what he did and said a lot of nothing so what he wants to do now is Devon come out and tell him face-to-face WHY he did it.
Devon comes out with A’s & 8’s behind him. Devon says he doesn’t owe Ray an explanation and they are no longer family, they are nothing now. Devon says Ray did what he did 2 years ago and Devon did what he did, enough said. Devon says this had nothing to do with Ray and has everything to do with Hogan. He says Hogan never once called him yet came out and said on national TV that he wanted Devon back so bad. He said he and Dixie did nothing and when he was down and out “the brotherhood” had his back while TNA and Hogan did nothing. Devon says this won’t end and when everything is said and done they will take out EVERYONE that has done them wrong. Devon says Ray isn’t even a threat to A’s & 8’s.
Ray says it’s over when he tells Devon that it’s over and Devon knows why he did to Devon what he did and it’s between them. Ray says Devon is a lying “sack of crap” and on the night they were supposed to retire they faced the Motor City Machine Guns and they were supposed to retire the champs and Chris Sabin kicked out of the 3D when Devon kicked out. Ray says no one ever kicked out of 3D but Sabin kicked out on Devon, and the part that nobody knows is that when they sat in the locker room Devon said to Ray “what the hell are you so worried about? We’re rich, screw the fans.” Devon says it’s true and says “screw them idiots” and says he could care less about the fans. Ray says he and Devon were never much on talking, they were all about fighting, so Devon should get rid of the guys he’s hiding behind and they can fight right now. Ray says he wants to kick Devon’s ass so bad he can taste it (no comment). Devon looks at Ray and says “no” and says that they’ll do this on Devon’s time, not Ray’s time and the world doesn’t revolve around him. Devon leaves with A’s & 8’s and Ray says this is typical of Devon because all of his career Devon has been nothing but a coward. He says that Devon hid behind Ray and he never had any balls. Ray says next week is Open Fight Night and he’s challenging Devon! Ray says he better grow a set of balls because he’s going beat his ass and putting him through a table!
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
In the back Joey Ryan says the normal rules don’t apply to him and Matt Morgan. Ryan says RVD doesn’t scare him and it’s time to put some X-Division gold around his waist. Morgan says Hogan started this with his laundry list of BS excuses to hold him down, and those days are over. Morgan says he’s going to do what he wants, when he wants and he dares someone to stop him.
Next week Gut Check will feature Christian York. York appeared on the very first TNA show back in 2002 teaming with Joey Matthews. York and Matthews also appeared in ECW together (the real ECW) back in the day. Footage of he and Matthews on that first show air while York is talking. He talks about seeing Joey Matthews win the Tag Team Titles in WWE and feels like had he made different decisions he may have been beside Matthews winning that. He says that Gut Check may be his last shot in wrestling to make some noise because he isn’t getting any younger.
Hogan talks to Angle and Storm in the back and gives Angle the title shot and then he says that he and Storm need to talk because he’s got something huge for him.
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Main Event
TNA World Heavyweight Championship
“Olympic Hero” Kurt Angle vs. “Charismatic Engima” Jeff Hardy (c)
This is Angle’s first shot at the big gold belt in about a year but this two have faced off from 2 dozen times and have had some classics. Angle and Hardy lockup and Angle gets Hardy in a side headlock, but Hardy shoves him into the ropes only to eat a shoulder block. Angle hits the ropes but Hardy catches him with an Armdrag and locks in an armlock on the mat. Angle fights back up to his feet and breaks the hold but eats another armdrag and again Hardy holds onto the armlock. Angle again gets to his feet but this time he forces Hardy into the corner to break the hold. Angle rakes Hardy’s face and then tosses Hardy into the top turnbuckle. Hardy comes back and nails Angle with punches and kicks in the corner followed by the Hardyac Arrest! 1…2…NO Angle kicks out! Hardy whips Angle into the opposite corner and charges but Angle gets his boot up. Angle climbs up the ropes and dives off with an Axe Handle attempt, but Hardy catches him in air with an Atomic Drop followed by a takedown. Hardy Leg Drop’s Angle in the balls and then hits a Basement Dropkick! 1…2…NO Angle kicks out! Hardy attempts to whip Angle into the corner but Angle reverses it and charges in but Hardy floats up into a Head Scissors Attempt. Angle blocks it and tosses Hardy onto the top rope hanging him up! Angle clotheslines Hardy off the top to the floor!
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Angle still has control as we come back from the break with headlock on the mat. Angle whips Hardy into the ropes and goes for a clothesline but Hardy ducks and then they clothesline each other laying both men out! Hardy back to his feet first and he nails Angle with a clothesline and then hits the ropes and nails Angle with a Flying Clothesline! Angle retreats to the corner but Hardy comes at him again with a Corner Splash! Hardy attempts to whip Angle into the opposite corner but Angle reverses it only for Hardy to spring out of the corner into a Spinning Headscissors Takeover! Angle goes flying out of the ring and then Hardy hits a Slingshot Dropkick through the ropes onto Angle followed by a Flying Clothesline off the apron! Back in the ring Hardy hits Angle with a back elbow and then he springs to the top and hits Whisper In the Wind! Hardy goes for the Twist but Angle blocks it and hits the Rolling German Suplexes! 1…2…NO Hardy kicks out! Angle goes for the Olympic Slam but Hardy blocks it and hits the Twist of Fate! Hardy climbs up top but Angle springs up to the top as well and hits a Belly-to-Belly Superplex! 1…2…NO Hardy kicks out again! Angle shows some frustration and then picks Hardy up and hits a VICIOUS Powerbomb! 1…2…NO Hardy kicks out but then Angle transitions into the Ankle Lock! Hardy rolls over and kicks Angle off and then hits a Leaping Mule Kick! Hardy climbs back up and dives off with the Swanton, but Angle rolls out of the way! Angle hits the Olympic Slam! 1…2…NO Hardy still kicks out! Angle grabs Hardy and goes for a suplex but Hardy counters with a series of elbows and then hits the Twist of Fate followed by a 2nd one! Hardy climbs up top and this time connects with the Swanton Bomb! 1…2……NO Angle still won’t stay down! Hardy landed FLUSH on Angle. The fans chant “this is awesome” and I would have to concur. Hardy charges at Angle but he backdrops Hardy over the top to the floor! Crash & burn! Angle spits out some blood on the mat, not sure what that was from. Angle rolls out to the floor and tosses Hardy back in the ring. Angle goes for the Olympic Slam but Hardy counters into a Sunset Flip! 1…2…3!
Winner & STILL World Champ: Hardy via pinfall (Sunset Flip)
After the match Austin Aries runs out and lays Hardy out! Aries says with all those “pairs of eyes you got” he’d think Hardy would have one in the back of his head. Aries says he would like to officially announce when and where he would like his rematch. Aries holds up the World Title and says at Turning Point it’s Hardy vs. Aries in the rematch! Aries says it will be a “Turning Point” in both of their careers because Aries goes back to the penthouse and Hardy goes back to the outhouse. Aries says he’s so confident that he’s going to win that he’s just going to take the World Title belt with him.
In the back Aces & Eights are assaulting Angle! Wes Brisco and Garett Bischoff run them off with a pipe and Brisco screams for a doctor.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Tonight was much better than last week and we got some really good wrestling.
First, the deliberation stuff has GOT to go. This crap is just ridiculous. This is not a reality show, it’s wrestling. I have no problem with including certain reality things into the show but this is just stupid. It’s wrestling let’s those 4 guys WRESTLE and the winner gets the shot. TNA is making something so simple much more complicated than it needs to be.
RVD-Zema had another really good match but I almost vomited when Joey Ryan held up that belt. I cannot stand this dude and having him anywhere near the X-Division Title is just pathetic. You got Sonjay Dutt, Zema Ion, Kenny King, and Kid Kash sitting on the sidelines with guys like TJ Perkins, Jigsaw, Lince Dorado, and others recently receiving tryouts yet Joey freaking Ryan is in a feud with RVD? Ugh.
Tara and Tessmacher’s match was okay but who can’t see this ODB & EY vs. Jesse & Tara match coming from a mile away? I have no desire to see that feud, ODB vs. Tara I’m fine with.
Aries vs. Anderson was a really good back and forth match and I loved the finish, really creative. They took the Eddie Guerrero finish and went a little further with it with Aries actually pulling an unconscious Anderson on top of him for a fake nearfall, just great.
Did Joe look like a BEAST or what tonight? I’ve never been a Rob Terry tonight but the guy is a monster and Joe just looked beastly continuing to go after the Clutch and then jumping on Terry’s back and locking in it. Terry also didn’t look near as clumsy as he usually does, maybe OVW is doing him good.
Daniels & Kaz have been on it the last few months but aside from the bad movie references they didn’t have a lot to work with tonight. I’m assuming we’ll get the Tag Titles rematch at Turning Point.
Bully Ray and Devon had a solid back and forth and it let them give a little more insight into that relationship and everything leading to Devon turning.
I like the idea of having someone who’s had SOME success in wrestling and has been doing it for awhile in Gut Check rather than these young guys that haven’t been doing it for very long. I haven’t seen Christian York in a few years but we’ll see what he has next week.
The switch in announcers SCREAMED Monday Nitro but I did like it. It felt fresh because we’ve had the same guys for years in TNA and Tenay has been there since day 1. Borash is also solid to me and I liked Todd as well. He adds the legit sports feel and experience to it and he seemed to be able to focus on the in-ring action more than either Taz or Tenay can these days.
Hardy and Angle tore it up like they seem to always do. Great marathon style match with them being REALLY physical and pulling out the stops. That’s the type of first defense Hardy needed and Angle losses nothing. I’m really hoping for a 2/3 Falls Match at Turning Point between Hardy & Aries. I think in a feud you really need to change things up everytime two guys face each other and I don’t really see either of these two being able to have a Roode-Storm style grudge match (and the hate level isn’t to that point yet either) but a 2/3 Falls Match would give them a chance to build the anticipation up to the 3rd Fall rather than the Marathon Style match they had at BFG.
I’m not really sure what they’re going for with the Angle thing. I thought we were headed towards Angle-AJ again but it seems like that was a way to write Angle off of TV for awhile. Maybe he’s hurting and this is to give him a month or two to rest? I’m not sure.
QUICK RESULTS
1) TNA X-Division Title: RVD (c) def. Zema Ion to retain the title!
2) TNA TV Title: Samoa Joe (c) def. Rob Terry to retain the title!
3) Austin Aries def. Mr. Anderson
4) TNA Knockouts Title: Tara (c) def. Miss Tessmacher to retain the title!
5) TNA World Title: Jeff Hardy (c) def. Kurt Angle to retain the title!
– Promo/Segment of the Night: Devon/Bully
– Match of the Night: Angle/Hardy (****)
– Overall Grade: B-
Scheduled for Next Week:
– ODB vs. Jesse
– Devon vs. Bully Ray
Turning Point Lineup:
– TNA World Title: Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Austin Aries
Follow me on Twitter: @BamaBoyJosh